Fire extinguisher discharge device



March 1956 F. B. ALLEN 2,737250 FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1953 15 14 INVENTOR BYFKAA/K 5, AL LE/V W TM United States PatentO FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE DEVICE 7 Frank B. Allen, Towaco, N. J., assiguor to C-O-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J.

Application January 27, 1953, Serial No. 333,401

7 Claims. (Cl. 169-11) The present invention relates to a fire extinguisher discharge device for use in installations subject to immersion in water or to conditions of excessive humidity.

Fire extinguishing systems installed in army tanks or other vehicles are often subject to immersion in water which may enter the piping of the extinguishing system through the discharge nozzles. Thereafter the vehicle may be exposed to cold temperatures resulting in the freezing of the water preventing the proper discharge of the fire extinguishing agent. Conditions of excessive humidity may cause rusting or corrosion of the piping and the products of the corrosion may clog the orifices of the discharge nozzles.

The present invention aims to provide means for the prevention of the entry of water or moisture into a fire extinguishing piping system through the discharge noules.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher discharge device which is simple and economical in manufacture, eflicient in operation, and durable in use.

In accordance with the invention the discharge nozzle is provided with a check valve preventing fluid flow into the piping system and passing fluid outwardly therethrough. The guiding means for the check valve passes through the orifice of the discharge nozzle.

The construction in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that there is no confined space after the orifice such as might cause freeze-up of carbon dioxide extinguishing fluid under conditions of intermittent operation.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a fire extinguishing discharge device in accordance with the invention, a portion thereof being broken away to show the internal construction.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1 looking into the shield, that is, looking from left to right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the outer end of the body member as seen looking into the horn.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the body member of the device shown in Figure 1 before the shield has been attached thereto, the check valve being shown in the opened position.

Figure 5 is an end view of the inner end of the body member looking from right to left in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a fire extinguisher discharge device or nozzle 1 in accordance with the invention. The nozzle comprises a body member 2 having a passage 3 extending therethrough, a shield 4 being secured in position over the body member and a check member 5 positioned in the body member to close the passage against the entry of fluid from the shield.

2,737,250 I Patented Mar. 6, 1956 The body member 2 may be formed of a single piece of material or may be fabricated in parts so as to facilitate its construction on conventional production machinery. The passage 3 is closed at the outer end by an end or wall 6, a plurality of laterally-extending opposed openings 7 being made in the body member adjacent the closed end 6. An inwardly-turned shoulder 9 is formed in the body member to receive in abutting relationship therewith a tubular member 10. The inner surface of the body member is threaded as is the outer surface of the tubular member 10 so that the tubular member may be secured in position against the shoulder 9. Alternatively, a pressed fit might be used, or other conventional means used for securing the tubular member 10 in position. Inner end 11 of the body member 2 is enlarged and provided with a threaded surface 12 for the attachment of the body member to the piping of a fire extinguishing system. Outer surface 14 of the inner 'end ll may be faced for engagement with a wrench if with a plurality of apertures 21 spaced thereabout.

The check valve member 5 preferably has a bevelled seat-engaging surface 22 which may be made of metal, metal covered with a suitable seating material, or wholly of a seating material such as nylon, rubber, or the like. A guide stem 23 extends from the check valve member 5 inwardly through the opening 20 of the guiding means 19. At the inner end of the guide stem 23 is an enlarged end 24 formed by upsetting the material, or by riveting a washer into position, or by other equivalent means. A valve spring 25 abuts at one end against the inner end of the guiding means 19 and at the other end against the enlarged end 24 of the guide stem 23. The size of the orifice is predetermined and depends upon the area of the space defined between the inner wall of the outer end 16 of the tubular member 10 and the surface of the guide stem, the space indicated at 26. The relative dimensions of these parts are chosen so as to provide an orifice opening of the desired area.

The shield 4 may be made in any suitable shape and is preferably a stamping with straight sidewalls 30 and opened end 31, a closed end 32 having an opening therein to fit over the body member 2, the shield being secured in position by outwardly turning the flange 15 against the edge of the opening in the closed end of the shield. Bosses 34 and 35 may be formed in the wall 30 of the shield to provide means for attaching the nozzle for a fixed installation.

It will be seen that a construction has been provided facilitating rapid assembly in that the body member may be fitted with a unitary assembly including the tubular member 10, the check member 5, its stem 23, and spring 25. The body member and valve assembly may then be inserted in the shield, and the flange 15 turned outwardly to complete the assembly.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. For example, while the body member has been shown and described as tubular in form with a closed end having laterally disposed openings adjacent the closed end, alternative constructions might be used, such as by placing a baffle plate spaced from the end of the body member at the 3 end of the passage therein, the fluid issuing laterally from the space so formed. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above shouldbe considered as illustrative andonot astlimitingithescope oftthe followingaclairns.

xelaim:

l A discharge nozzle =f0r? fire extinguishingfiu-ideom- 'prising azbodyzmernber having a passagezthenein;recheck valve means closing vthepassage qagainst inward fluid flow and practically ineffective against Jontwardfiuid flow, and guiding me'ansafon the check ivalvefextending inwardly .into' the: passage, the orifice opening for thenozzledefined 'bytherspace-between the wall of; thewpassageaandnthe surface of the guiding means.

:2. "i-A idischargeinozzle for fire:v extinguishing'finid scornprising a" body: member having- 2111335528? .theneimata discharge! shield extending toutwardlygfromtthe body-{mem- :bier,z0rificet meanst positoned the-passage, acheckvalve ,to :c1ose--the; passage, anda guide stem-for=:.-the;check waive extending' through the lQI'lfiCC opening, the aChCCk valvepp'assing i fluid outwardly-into :"the discharge: shield with practically ino rest-rictio.n tothe fiuid'flow.

31A: discharge nozzle; for fire extinguishing fluid" comprising a body member having a passage thereinrandischarge shield extending outwardly from the body member,vor:ifice means positioned in the-passage, check valve means to close the passage against inwardkflow and practically ineffective against-outward flow, -guiding:=means for thev :check valve: means extending through the gopening votthe orifice means',;and a battle; member at the-end :of: the passage'acting {as a stop for theflcheck valvei means -:and to causelateral flow' ottheissuingefiuid.

4. A dischargenozzle for fire extinguishing-fluid comprising: a body'member. having ar passage therein, a i'diS- .ehargeashield extending outwardly frornthe body memwber; the passage having a threaded inner 'surface-gacheck valve and orifice assembly;threadedly .-engaged;-in the passage, the check :valve :efiectivezagainstinward -flow and: practically ineffective 5 against -,outward I ;flOW= to Q ,the

discharge shield, the assembly including :orificesmeans, check valve ,means, guiding rneans for the @check =valve,

and resilient means normally maintainingathe :check vvalve "on its seat, the guiding means for the check valve :extendingthrough the opening of? the .orifice. 4

5. A discharge nozzle forvfire extinguishing;fiuidecoming a threaded inner surface,-.archeckwalvemndrzorifice reassembly vthreade'dly engaged in the;passage,-.5thetcheck :valve 'eflective i'against inward: flow and, practically:,-in- -etf ective against 7 outward: flow to. -.the discharget shield,

the assembly including orifice means, check valve means, guiding means for the check valve, and resilient means normally maintaining the :icheck valve on its seat, the guiding means for the check valve extending through the opening of the orifice.

6. A discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid comprising a body memberzhavi-nga passage therein, a discharge ,shield extending outwardly from the body memher/the passage having a'threadedinner-surface,-a check valve and orifice-assembly threadedly engagedv inztthe passage, the .check valve -.efi?ective against inward fiow and practically ineffective against outward flow to the discharge 'shield, the assembly including "orifice means, check valve me.ans,.guidi ng means.. for:the check valve, resilent means normally maintaining the check valve on its seat, the guiding means for the check valve extending through the opening the orifice, and a closed end for the outwardzend of thepassage, the :body member having laterally extending: openings therein, -.,the.-,closed,@nd:;acting-has a stop forthe ,check valve means and; to e-awe -lateralflow of theissuing fluid,throngh;theopenings.

7. A discharge nozzlerfor;fire-extinguishing; fluid-16mm- ;prising a body -membenhavingapassagedherein, axially extending fiangemeans extending. from-,(the.; body.,memher, a closed-end forthe passage,.thebodvmemberhavding. :laterallyextending openings thereitt-w adjaeent the ,closed end, a discharge shield extendingoutwardlyrfrom r the body member, the-shield (having -a,-.closed-,end with an opening therethroii gh ,and positioned over.- ,the,,hqdy member, the flange turned outwardll;over-itheedgemt .the opening v intthe shield heldinglthe shielddnr-position, Catt least'a portion ofthe passage,havingarthreadedjsur- ,face';-a;tubular member threadedly secured irnthegpasgage, the tubular member having one end of a predetenmined diameter, a-check :valverseating on the one end/ f, the

tubular. member, a guide stem rfonthe check-,valve, @Pervtured gguiding .means at .the tether end ot the;,tuhular member for the guide stem, means forming an, enlarged "end fon. the iguide stern, and l a spring :aboutnthe guide stem .cornpressedgbetween the, guiding means-,and= the, en1ar ged end of athe stern holding: the, checkvalve ,on, i;ts seat the check valve L ineffective against, inward flow andnpractically ineffective against outward; flowatmthe discharge ,shield, -=the orifice opening: forsthe, nozzledefined Tbyr'the space-between the wall of thezpassageaandrtheteutface tots-the guideistem.

References Cited in the file of thisepatent UNITED STATESTATENTS 

